Alas, still no turkey eggs.

[Denninmi]

Am I just being too impatient? I kind of thought that my 4 hens would start laying by now. The ducks have started laying regularly now, but of course, each species is different.

I assume that the primary trigger must be daylength, and temperature perhaps secondary? Our days are still short, only about 10 1/4 hours of actual sunlight. And, temps have been cold, definitely below normal for Michigan, with lows as cold as around Zero, probably averaging in the low teens, and only one or two days even hitting the freezing mark since our very brief New Year's day thaw, when it was 60 for a few hours.

So, for those with experience, when do turkeys generally start laying in the north? And, does breed matter? Mine are a cross between sweetgrass and royal palm -- mutts.

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Some of ours are just getting started now finally. The Beltsvilles are about 3 weeks behind last year. It has been extra cold, rainy, snowy this year for us so the weather does factor in.

Steve

 

[Cindiloohoo]

My hen hasn't started yet either

 

[A.T. Hagan]

My Midget Whites haven't started yet either and I don't expect them to before the latter part of the month.

 

[longranger]

No eggs for me yet in southern California

 

[SED]

My Bourbon Reds started about three weeks ago. I have 5 hens and 4 of them are laying. My problem is, it looks like only 2 or 3 eggs have been fertile (out of 40+ eggs). They are only 10 months old so I am not sure if that plays a role in the lack of fertility.

 

[ShadyHoller]

I'm relieved to hear most of you haven't been getting eggs yet, either. I have been anxiously awaiting them!

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

Mine aren't yet either & I'm closer to you. Although I have noticed increaded posturing from my tom & the edge of my girls faces looking a bit redder . . . I'm guessing this is a similar indicator to chickens.

 

[bigdawg]

got my first turkey egg today. yea. but it was a softshell. broke before i could tell if it was fertile. she laid in her new nest box. good girl

 

[kuntrygirl]

It's just going to take some time. From what I have been reading in all of the turkey posts, turkeys are laying different times of the year depending on where a person lives. In my instance, my girls lay year round. I have no idea why, they just do.

. I would just eat the eggs that they layed because for months, none of my girls wanted to set on their eggs. Now I have 3 that are setting on eggs.

Go figure.